4 TV Show Inaccuracies

This week, I’m down in Austin doing some work, which has been wonderful on many levels seeing as, for starters, I somehow got to be mumble-mumble-years-old without ever stepping foot in Texas. But also because I’ve now had the good fortune of meeting one of our newest _flossers (and dare I say already one of my favorite all-time _flossers), Kathy Benjamin.

Last night, Kathy, her affable husband Simon, and I got to talking about Downton Abbey, what with it being the season finale and all. I’m a big fan of the show, but Kathy, who wants to love it, has trouble because of some of the inaccuracies. I told her she should write a post highlighting some of the more egregious ones, which I think she’s going to work on soon. In the meantime, there’s this listacle I’ve culled together this morning. As always, if you guys think I missed an important one, let us know in the comments below...

1. Kill the mice!

This inaccuracy is seen on dozens of TV shows from The Big Bang Theory to CSI. All genres, all networks, all studios, no one seems to care that computer mice (and/or touchpads on laptops) are virtually essential to get any kind of real computing done. But the blocking only calls for typing! Check out the video below for an example of what I mean. Really NCIS? Really?

2. Mad Men penalty

In one episode of Mad Men, which takes place in 1964, Don Draper is seen watching an NFL football game on a Saturday night. This would have been impossible given that prime-time NFL football didn’t begin until 1970.

3. When in Rome...

Centurions on horseback certainly look dapper in their chain mail, but they were historically inaccurate, predating the actual use of such defense garments by several hundred years. Likewise, some of the religious rituals, like the taurobolium scene (blood from the sacrificed bull) are depicted hundreds of years before they were introduced to the Italian region.

4. Got themselves a gun, problem

Often in The Sopranos, characters could be seen firing Berreta M9s and other automatic pistols. But more than 15 shots require additional magazines and there are always awkward slides to contend with that we never saw much on the show.